FEATURE: Rob Heron – A Look Back At 2017

The musician takes a look back at 2017

By NARC.
on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017

2017 has been a rather interesting year. We’ve been lucky enough to fill our pages with some incredible creative talent, so we asked a few of them to share some thoughts on the year just gone. We caught up with talented musician Rob Heron, to take a little look back through the highs and lows of his year…

So, how was your 2017?
2017 was great…did a lot of gigs in lots of countries…started the year touring the Alps with “The Big Smoke Band”, made up of members of Holy Moly & The Crackers, Buffalo Skinners and myself! Played with The Tea Pad in Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, Ireland and UK, and toured Ireland and UK with my rockabilly trio, Sir Jac’s Bantamacs, also!

What was your best moment?
Difficult to say…but probably meeting my girlfriend back in April! Soppy I know, but that made my year for sure!

Your favourite band of the year?
The James Hunter Six for sure…what a fucking amazing band!

Your favourite song of the year?
The James Hunter Six – (Baby) Hold On, which was released last year, but I only heard it this year! The rest of my favourite songs this year are much older than 2016!

Favourite TV of the year?
I don’t watch too much telly, but I do enjoy Detectorists, and boy am I looking forward to the new League of Gentlemen episodes next week!

Your favourite film?
I don’t go to the cinema much either, but I watch films at home. Best one I watched this year was probably The Greasy Strangler…bloody brilliant and hilarious and weird, and also features a friend of mine, Joe, playing a character called Oinker!

Favourite venue of the year?
The Cluny…played there in Februrary and looking forward to playing there next week also! It’s great that Julian has now made it an independent venue/bar, the man has taste in music and beer!

What was your favourite gig of the year?
The Ray Collins Hot Club at Atomic Festival, a superb 12 piece 50’s R&B band from Germany, matching tuxedos, great front man, 4 piece horn section, the works! Goo see them if you can. OR, Jonny Fritz, a superb whacky country singer, at MOTH club in London, OR The Mystery Lights, energetic retro garage punk, at The Head of Steam last week. All bloody brilliant gigs in very different ways!

What gifts are on your letter to Santa this year?
Records, and clothes. My faves!

And finally, what has 2018 got in store for you?
Ireland tour with Tea Pad Orchestra in March, little UK tour in April, Germany and Switzerland in May, probably lots of summer festivals, and the recording of a NEW ALBUM which will also hopefully be released in the latter months of 2018! In between gigs, I will be DJing a lot in Newcastle, and running my quarterly 60s Soul club, Soul Finger, at the Cumberland Arms!